Car frame support and journal box



Sept. 22, 19M. R. J. BRITTAI'N, JR

CAR FRAME SUPPORT AND JOURNAL BOX O 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 28, 1928 Sept. 22, 1931. R. J. BRI-TTAIN, JR

CAR FRAME SUPPORT AND JOURNAL BOX Filed May 28, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 22, 1931. R. .1. BRITTAIN, Y.1R 1,823,884

CAR FRAME SUPPORT AND JOURNAL BOX v Filed May 28, 1928 s sheets-sneer s VEN TUR; H/@HA @DIER/TMW JEL er K @f5/1 TITURA/Ey Patented Sept. 22, 1931 UNITED sTATEs PATENT ori-ICE RICHARD J'. BRITTAIN, JR., OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE i CAR FRAME SUPPORT AND JOURNAL yBOX Application led May 28,

This invention relates4 to car frame supports and journal boxes and comprises all the features of novelty herein disclosed. An

object of the invention is to provide improved supporting connections between a frame member, such as an equalizer bar, and an axlebox. Another object is to provide improved rocking o`r rolling seat plates to transfer load from a frame to an axle box in a self adjusting manner. Another object is to provide a rocker connection for obtaining improved bearing alignment and better load equalization. To these ends and to improve generally and in detail upon devices of this general character, the invention also consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention, in its broader aspects, is not necessarily limited to the specific embodiments selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, vertical section through the top portion of an axle box and associated parts. A

Fig. 2 is a transverse verticalsection'on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper seat plate.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lower seat plate.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of a modied rocking connection for twin equalizer bars.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical Hsection i thereof.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the upper seat plate.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the lower seat plate. i

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal verticalsection of still another form of rocking connectlon.

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical section thereof. f

Fig. 11 is la seat plate. j

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the lower seat plate.

A journal box 2 has a race r1ng 4 for two sets of roller bearings 6 which run on a sleeve 8 of a shaft or axle 10. The top of perspective view of the upper 1928. Serial No. 281,071.

the box is v provided with a substantially square recess 12 bounded by a continuous retalning flange 14. A lower seat plate 16 is' set in the recess and its upper surface 18 is herein illustrated as cylindrical or .crowned longitudinally of the axle on a curve of large radius. The. seat plate substantially fills the bottom of the recess though a slight clearance with the surrounding flange 14 is preferred to allow the seat plate to adjust itself as a compensation for misalignment or inaccuracies of cooperating parts. lThe plate has rounded retaining and guiding lugs 20 projecting upwardly from opposite 'ends and extending crosswise of the journal box to enter corresponding recesses 22 of slightly larger size formed at the ends of an upper seat plate 24. The interiitting lugs and recesses retain the upper plate from shifting bodily on the lower plate. The under surface 26 of plate 24 is also shown as cylindrical and crowned longitudinally of the box. Whether one or both of the engaging plates is crowned, a relative crowning exists so that one plate can rock or roll on the other one. The enclosingpr retaining ange 14 surrounds the lower portion of the plate 24 to retain it from abnormal displacement but there is suiicient clearance to allow free rocking. The plate 24 has a central rounded retaining rib or lug 28 extending will be noted that the roller bearings are offset outwardly with respect to the centers f the equalizer bar and seat plates. 4This is to decrease the liability of heavy overload at the extreme outer end of the bearings at such times as the car is rounding curves at high speed. The rocking connection between the equalizer bar and the journal box allows projecting reinforcing and retaining'ribs 50 near the ends to enter cavities 52 extending longitudinally of the journal box and cut down from the bottom of the recess 46 and deepening the latter at the sides of the bearing where such cutting will not weaken the box. The ribs have a small clearance all around with the walls of the cavities and the ends of the plate have a small clearance with the end walls 54 of the recess 46. The sides of the plate also have a small clearance with the side walls 56 of the recess so that the plate can twist a little for self adjustment and yet be securely retained on the box. The upper face of the plate 48 is crowned longitudinally of the box to provide a cylindrical surface 58 and has upwardly projecting end lugs 60 to enter end recesses 62 in the bottom of an upper seat plate 64. The sides of the lugs 60 are crowned with a slightly smaller radius than the walls of the recesses. The lower surface `of the upper plate is crowned to provide a cylindrical surface 66 to rock or roll on the cylindrical surface 58. The upper plate has a pair of rounded ribs or lugs 68 to enter corresponding recesses in a pair of twin Vequalizer bars 70, one of which is indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 6.

The bars rest in the groovesI formed by side flanges 7 2 and side walls 74. The grooves are equally spaced from the center of the seat plate and the bottom walls 76 of the grooves are silghtly crowned crosswise of the axle so the equalizer bars can sag or tilt without tilting the journal box. The central portion of the plate 64 is provided with suitable reinforcing ribs 78. This construction operates in a manner similar to Lthat of Figs. 1 to 4 but is adapted for supporting a car frame having twin equalizer. bars.

In Figs. 9 to 12, the construction is similar to the preceding but the projecting flange is omitted from the sides of the box and the upper seat plate is adapted for a single equalizer bar. The top of the axle box 82'has a shallow recess 84 at the center bounded on two sides by arcuate ribs or side walls 86 extending crosswise of the box and between which a lower seat plate 8 8 is retained with a slight clearance. The plate has downwardly projecting reinforcing and retaining ribs 90 near the ends to enter cavities 92 in the box, the ribs having a clearance with the walls of the cavities so that the plate can adjust itself. The upper face of the plate is crowned longitudinally of the box to provide a cylindrical surface 94 and 'has upwardly projecting end lugs 96 to enter end recesses or slots 98 at the ends of an upper seat plate 100. The lower surface of the upper seat plate is crowned longitudinally of the box to provide a cylindrical surface 102 to rock on the cylindrical surface 94. The upper plate has a rounded rib or lug 104 to enter a corresponding recess in an equalizer bar 106 indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 10. The bar is retained by side flangesy 108 and the upper surface 110 of the plate is crowned crosswise of the axle so that the equalizer bar can sag and 'tilt without tending to tilt the journal box.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a journal box having a recess in the top thereof, a lower plate set in said recess and having a clearance with the walls thereof to allow the plate to adjust itself, an upper plate seated on the lower plate, the engaging surfaces of the plates having-a relative crowning longitudinally of the box to allow the upper plate to rock on the lower one,"a car frame member extending crosswise of the box, and a seat on the upper plate for the car frame member; substantially as described.

"2. In a device of the character described, a journal box having a recess in the top thereof, a lower plate set in said recess and retained by the walls thereof, an upper plate having a rocking engagement with the lower plate, a lug on one of the plates entering a recess in the other plate to retain the plates in rocking engagement, a car frame member, and a seat on the upper plate for the car frame member; substantially as described.

3. In a device of theu character described, a journal box having -a recess in the top thereof, a lower plate setv in said recess and retained by the walls thereof, an upper plate having a rocking engagement with the lower late, lugs projecting from the ends of the ower plate and extending crosswise of the box, the upper plate having recesses to receive .the lugs, a car frame member, and a seat on the, upper late for the car frame member; substantia ly as described.

4. In a device of the character described, a journal box having a recess in the top thereof, a lower plate set in said recess and retained by the walls thereof, an upper plate seated on the lower plate, the engaging surfacesv of the plates having a relative crowning longitudinally of the box to allow the upper plate to rock, a lugprojecting from one of the plates and extending ing a recess to receive the lug, a car frame member extending crosswise of the box, and

the upper plate having a surface crowned.

crosswise of the box to provide a seat for the frame member; substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, a journal box, a car frame member extending crosswise of the box, a `lower plate mounted on the box, an upper plate having a rocking engagement with the lower plate, a lug on one of `the plates entering a recess in the other plate to lretain the plates in rocking engagement, and' a. seat on the upper plate vfor the frame member; substantially as described. j

6. In a' device of the character described, a journal box, a car frame member extending crosswise of the box, a plate engaging and supporting the car frame member, one

i' of said engaging members having a retaining lug extending longitudinally of the box and entering a recess in 'the other member,

the under surface of the plate being crowned longitudinally of the box and having a recess on its under side extending crosswise `of the box, and a retaining lug .projecting upwardly into said recess; substantially as describe 7. In a device of the character described, a journal box, a car frame member extending crosswise of the box, a plate having .a seat for supporting the car frame member, the.

.by-"the walls thereof, the plate having an up'- wardly projecting lug extending crosswise of the box, the upper surfaceofthe plate being crowned longitudinally of the box,.and a supporting member rockably mounted on the plate and having a recess to receive the lug; substantially as described.

9. In a device of the character described, a journal box having a recess in the top thereof, a lower seat plate seated in said recess, an

upper plate seated on the lower plate, the engaging surfaces of the plates having a relative crowning longitudinally of the box to allow the upper plate to rock freely on the lower one from la central position, interengaging means on the seat platesfor preventing the upper plate from shifting bodily on the lower plate, a car frame member extending crosswise of the box, and a seat on the l upper plate for the car frame member; substantially as described.

10. Ina

saidengaging members having a retaining lug extending longitudinally of the box and entering a recess in the other member, Jthe under surface ofthe plate being curved longitudinally `of the box to rock freely on a supporting surface, the plate and the supporting surface having an interfitting lug and recess extending crosswise of the box to retain the plate in rocking engagement with the supporting surface; substantially as described.

1 1.v In a device of the character described, a journal'box having a longitudinally extending cavity in its upper surface at the side of the longitudinal center, a plate resting on thebox and having a retaining rib entering said cavity -to hold the plate fromv shifting crosswise of the box, the upper surface of the plate being crowned longitudinally of. the box, vand a supporting member mounted to rock' on said crowned surface;

substantially as described.

12. In adevice of the character described, a journal box having a longitudinally ex-. tending cavity in its upper surface at the side ofthe longitudinal center, a plate resting on thebox andhaving a retaining rib entering said cavity to hold the plate from shifting crosswise of the box, a car frame member extending crosswise of the box, and

means for mounting said frame member foi' rocking movement with respect to said plate; substantially as described. f .l f

l 13. In a device of the character described,

a journalbox having its top provided with a central recess and a pair ofV longitudinally extending cavities at opposite sides of the longitudinal center, a platein'said recess and having a lpair of retaining ribs extending down into said cavities, a car frame member, and means for mounting said car frame member for rocking movementv with respect to said plate; substantially as described.

14. In a device of the character described, a journal box having a longitudinally'extending cavity in its upper surface, a plate resting on the box and having a retaining rib extending down into said cavity, a .member mounted to rock on said plate, and aretaining rib extending crosswise of the box ,and projecting upwardly from the plate and en-` tering a recess in the member; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afhx my f signature. f

RICHARD J. BRITTAIN, JR.

device of the character described, i 

